Texas State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, shown at the Democratic National Convention.

Texas State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, shown at the Democratic National Convention.

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San Antonio senator replaces Perry for the day

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AUSTIN - As sights and sounds of San Antonio poured into the Texas Senate Saturday, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte beamed from the dais overlooking her family, friends and colleagues who came to support the San Antonio Democrat as she was sworn in as governor for a day.

Music from an all-female mariachi band, Mariachi Damas de Jalisco of San Antonio, flooded the upper-chamber and military and Fiesta medals gleamed in the sunlight cascading through the large windows of the Capitol. The annual ceremony honors the president pro tempore of the Senate, elected by fellow members, who serves as governor if the Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are out of the state.

Many lawmakers from state and local government from both parties spoke, sometimes in Spanish, at the ceremony, labeling Van de Putte a "champion of veterans issues" and a "terrific representative of San Antonio and Texas."

"I'm delighted to be here to have a governor that I can respect and admire for a little while," quipped Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett before the ceremony. "I'm glad that she is using the day to honor many core elements of San Antonio such as our veterans and heroes of the Alamo."

Van de Putte spoke for about 15 minutes at the ceremony and stayed away from most political issues except for gay rights. She urged her fellow colleagues to pass her Senate Bill 237, which bans employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender expression.

"Someday there will be a portrait of a Texas hero on these walls, and he or she may just happen to be gay," said Van de Putte, adding that state legend Sam Houston, whose Bible she used to take the oath of office, was a champion for Indians' rights and she will do the same for gay rights.

State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said after one day of serving under "Governor Van de Putte … we are going to want her in that role for many more."

World War II and Vietnam veteran J.C. Ernst of Austin, 90, said he felt "wasn't going to miss" the ceremony because Van de Putte "is famous for helping on veterans' benefits."

Van de Putte serves as the chairwoman of the Veterans Affairs and Military Installations committee and has passed tax exemptions and generous education benefits for military members and created a veterans' specialty court in Texas during her tenure.

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, the first Hispanic woman elected to the Senate, quoted former Ottowa, Canada mayor Charlotte Whitton in praising Van de Putte. "Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought of half as good," Zaffirini said. "Luckily, for Leticia, this is not difficult."